Djorkaeff spares Bolton's blushes

Bolton Wanderers 1 Southampton 1

Youri Djorkaeff struck seconds from time to give Bolton a deserved equaliser in a game of chances but little quality. While Wanderers snatched a point, when all three would have been a fairer reflection of play, their manager, Sam Allardyce, must be concerned that, again, they failed to take advantage when they had the upper hand.

An outstanding goalkeeping performance from Antti Niemi was the key reason why Bolton's ascendancy was not converted into victory, but the lack of flexibility in Allardyce's formation raises long-term worries. Ivan Campo, on loan from Real Madrid, was employed to sit just in front of his back four. As a defensive ploy it worked, limiting Southampton's opportunities, but as soon as he ventured from his detail Bolton looked vulnerable and their performance became straitjacketed.

The visitors, employing a triangular formation with Jo Tessem at the apex, struggled to make inroads and nearly 20 minutes elapsed before Tess-em's flick-on provided Anders Svensson with his side's first shooting opportunity, an effort which went just wide.

Only when Southampton switched to a more familiar 4-4-2 did they look genuinely threatening, allowing the previously defence-locked Wayne Bridge to score the slightly deflected opener after skipping past Campo. James Beattie, on as a substitute, should have piled insult on to the injury when an Anthony Barness error allowed the former Blackburn player to chip over Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal, but the ball settled on the roof of the net.

That miss provided the momentum for Bolton's late thrusts, which culminated in the leveller. Mike Whitlow flicked on a header and Djorkaeff, alone at the far post, struck hard and high.

Allardyce said: "To turn the game round so close to the end was very pleasing, but I couldn't believe it when they took the lead. We played patiently and refused to become frustrated by the tight unit we faced."

But Bolton had squandered a host of chances. Michael Ricketts and Dean Holdsworth forced the best from Niemi, Per Frandsen shot just over and Gudni Bergsson headed against the bar. "In this division, you must take your chances," Allardyce added.

But Gordon Strachan, the Southampton manager, insisted that his side had performed well enough to deserve their point. "I felt we controlled the first half, but we were undone by a poor final ball. Where we failed was in a lack of professionalism and concentration," he admitted, referring to the confusion at the back that enabled Djorkaeff's last-ditch strike.

Bolton Wanderers 1
Djorkaeff 90

Southampton 1
Bridge 82

Half-time: 0-0 Attendance: 22,692